Homeowners Should Be Aware of Asbestos Hazards
Posted by Dennis Blackmore in Buyers, Home Inspection, Sellers, Tips, tags: home inspectionQuestion for real estate owners: Would you Mr. and Mrs. Buyer purchase a home with asbestos that is “friable” or not properly wrapped on pipes?
I am not really sure that seller’s in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and other Hampton Roads communities understand the potential danger and “fear” that buyers may have when considering homes that have asbestos especially those where it has deteriorated and become potentially “airborne”.
“Friable Asbestos” can be defined as: When asbestos is crushed it disperses a dusting of microscopic fibers in the air that can remain for very long periods of time. These fibers can be unknowingly inhaled and permanently lodged in lung and other body tissues, yet symptoms might not appear for 20 years or more. Inhaling the fibers has been linked to cancer and asbestosis, a chronic lung disease similar in symptoms to emphysema. Unfortunately there is no known safe level of exposure, which is why asbestos remains a concern today.
Homeowners considering removing asbestos themselves may want to read the cautionary and directions provided by the EPA - most likely you will then be educated and hire a professional certified in this type of work.
As a new real estate homeowner or potential seller, it is not likely that you are acquainted with the inner materials of a home.
However, most Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hampton Roads buyers seek an updated home inspection before closing on a new property.
It is important to reassure buyers that the home is safe and does not contain any potential health hazards. These inspections are critical to clearing hurdles down the road that may slow the sale of property.
One of the most common surprises new homeowners and sellers confront is asbestos in older structures. Read the rest of this entry »
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